Hotchka Movies by the Decade feature #186 :: February 14•20

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Some major films were released this week across the decades, with a few getting awards attention. Sadly all but one of 1924’s films are lost, and even that one is incomplete. 1934 featured a Broadway adaptation, and a film with an Oscar-nominated score. 1944 saw Charlie Chan switch studios, the motion picture debut of a soon to be beloved musical-comedy star, and Donald Duck meeting Roman and Greek gods. 1954 brought the stars of I Love Lucy to the big screen in vibrant color for the first time, and 1964 gave us two Bette Davises for the price of one. 1974 produced a classic Jack Nicholson film with a bag full of awards nominations and a then-record for F-bombs. in 1984, Kevin Bacon was forbidden to dance, and Tom Selleck became a jewel thief. 1994 saw Steven Seagal earn a number of awards nominations … unfortunately they were Razzie Awards, and Ben Stiller made his feature directing debut. 2004 saw Lindsay Lohan bring some teenage drama to the big screen, and 2014 had two remakes of beloved 1980s films. Scroll down the list to see the films that premiered this week and tell us if your favorites are celebrating milestone anniversaries!

1924

• February 14 – The Hoosier Schoolmaster (USA, W. W. Hodkinson Corporation)
• February 15 – No More Women (USA, Allied Producers & Distributors Corporation)
• February 15 – The Masked Dancer (USA, Principal Distributing)
• February 17 – By Divine Right (USA, Film Booking Offices of America)
• February 17 – Phantom Justice (USA, Film Booking Offices of America)
• February 17 – Shadows of Paris (USA, Paramount Pictures)
• February 17 – The Night Hawk (USA, W. W. Hodkinson Corporation)
• February 17 – The Wolf Man (USA, Fox Film Corporation)
• February 18 – One Arabian Night (UK, Stoll Picture Productions)
• February 18 – The Next Corner (USA, Paramount Pictures)

One Arabian Night has no known US theatrical release date. The Night Hawk and The Wolf Man are lost films.

The Hoosier Schoolmaster is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Edward Eggleston. It was remade as a post-Civil War talkie in 1935. A print with one reel missing is held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive and Library of Congress.

The Masked Dancer is based upon the play Die Frau mit der Maske by Rudolph Lothar. Aside from a 30-second clip, the film is considered lost.

An incomplete copy of Phantom Justice is held at the BFI National Archive.

Shadows of Paris was based on the play Mon Homme by Francis Carco and André Picard. Only one minute of footage survives in the short Fashions in Love (1936).

The Next Corner was based on the romance novel of the same name by Kate Jordan. The film is considered lost.

1934

• February 14 – As the Earth Turns (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 14 – Fashions of 1934 (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 14 – Love Past Thirty (USA, Freuler Film Associates)
• February 16 – Good Dame (USA, Paramount Pictures)
• February 16 – The Cat and the Fiddle (USA, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
• February 16 – The Lost Patrol (USA, RKO Radio Pictures)
• February 17 – Mills Blue Rhythm Band (USA, short, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 19 – School for Girls (USA, Liberty Pictures)

As the Earth Turns was based on a Pulitzer Prize-nominated best-selling novel by Gladys Hasty Carroll.

Sometime after its initial release, the title Fashions of 1934 was changed to Fashions, replacing the original title with an insert card stating William Powell in Fashions. The film’s working titles were King of Fashion and Fashion Follies of 1934.

The Cat and the Fiddle was based on the hit 1931 Broadway musical of the same name by Jerome Kern and Otto A. Harbach. The final reel was filmed in the new three-strip Technicolor process.

The Lost Patrol was adapted from the 1927 novel Patrol by Philip MacDonald, and is a remake of a 1929 British silent film. Max Steiner’s score was Oscar nominated.

1944

• February 14 – Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (USA, Monogram Pictures)
• February 14 – Escape to Danger (USA, RKO Radio Pictures)
• February 14 – Week-End Pass (USA, Universal Pictures)
• February 16 – Passage to Marseille (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 17 – Nine Girls (USA, Columbia Pictures)
• February 17 – Up in Arms (USA, RKO Radio Pictures)
• February 18 – Action in Arabia (USA, RKO Radio Pictures)
• February 18 – Million Dollar Kid (USA, Monogram Pictures)
• February 18 – Trombone Trouble (USA, short, RKO Radio Pictures)
• February 19 – Casanova in Burlesque (USA, Republic Pictures)

Escape to Danger originally opened in the UK on October 18, 1943.

Charlie Chan in the Secret Service was the first film made by Monogram Pictures after 20th Century-Fox dropped the Chan series.

Passage to Marseille is also known as Message to Marseille. The screenplay is based the novel Sans Patrie (Men Without Country) by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall.

Nine Girls was based on the 1943 play of the same name by Wilfred H. Petitt.

The working title for Up in Arms was With Flying Colors. It was the motion picture feature debut of Danny Kaye. The film earned two Oscar nominations for Music Scoring and Original Song.

Action in Arabia is also known as Danger in Damascus and International Zone. Based on the novel The Fanatic of Fez by M. V. Heberden.

Trombone Trouble is the only Donald Duck cartoon where Roman/Greek gods play a role.

1954

• February 15 – She Couldn’t Say No (USA, RKO Pictures)
• February 16 – April 1, 2000 (USA, Lewis Productions Inc.)
• February 16 – The Runaway Bus (UK, Eros Films)
• February 18 – Taza, Son of Cochise (USA, Universal Pictures)
• February 18 – The Long, Long Trailer (USA, Loew’s Inc.)
• February 19 – New Faces (USA, 20th Century Fox)
• February 20 – Drag-A-Long Droopy (USA, short, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

April 1, 2000 was originally released in Austria on November 19, 1952.

She Couldn’t Say No was the last film of director Lloyd Bacon. It was based on the story ‘Enough for Happiness’ by D.D. Beauchamp, published in a 1951 edition of American Magazine. It was re-released as Beautiful but Dangerous.

The Runaway Bus was the feature film debut of popular British comedian Frankie Howerd.

Taza, Son of Cochise was filmed in 3D, and was one of two films at the time released in the Pola-Lite 3D System which only required one projector instead of two synced together.

The Long, Long Trailer is based on a novel of the same name written by Clinton Twiss in 1951. The trailer used in the film is the 1953 36-foot Redman New Moon model. The residence of Tacy’s aunt and uncle (where the porch and rosebush are destroyed by the trailer) is the Meet Me in St. Louis John Truett house on the MGM Backlot. The house where the trailer was parked and being chaotically packed with housewares by Tacy’s friends appears to be Lucy and Desi’s actual home on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills. The film gave fans of I Love Lucy a chance to see stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in color.

New Faces, sometimes referred to as New Faces of 1952 (the title of the original Broadway show), was filmed in Cinemascope and Eastmancolor.

1964

Warner Bros. Pictures

• February 19 – Dead Ringer (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 19 – Naughty Dallas (USA, Diamond International Pictures)
• February 19 – The Day and the Hour (USA, Metro Goldwyn Mayer)

The Day and the Hour originally opened in France on April 5, 1963 as Le jour et l’heure.

Dead Ringer is also known as Who Is Buried in My Grave? The screenplay is based on the story La Otra by Rian James. The film marks the second time Davis played twin sisters, the first being in the 1946 film A Stolen Life. The film was remade as a 1986 TV movie, Killer in the Mirror, starring Ann Jillian.

1974

• February 15 – Superdad (USA, Buena Vista Distribution)
• February 15 – The Last Detail (USA, Columbia Pictures)
• February 19 – Terror! Il castello delle donne maledette (Italy, Nettunia Film)

Terror! Il castello delle donne maledette was released in the US in January 1975 as Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks.

Superdad marks the film debut of Bruno Kirby.

The Last Detail was based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Darryl Ponicsan. The film was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, three Academy Awards, and four British Academy Film Awards (winning two). The film was shot in chronological order to help inexperienced Randy Quaid and recently cast Otis Young ease into and develop their characters. The first cut of the film ran four hours. Editing took so long the studio threatened to take the film away from director Hal Ashby. The studio was also concerned about the number of expletives in the film, which received an R-rating from the MPAA. The release was delayed for six months as the studio and director fought over the profanity issue. The final cut contained 65 uses of the word ‘fuck’, a record at the time. The studio held a preview to see how the public would react, and the screening was a huge success.

1984

Paramount Pictures

• February 15 – Hot Heir (USA, E.O. Corporation)
• February 15 – The Blade Master (USA, New Line Cinema)
• February 16 – Chords of Fame (USA, documentary)
• February 16 – In Our Hands (USA, documentary, June 12 Film Group)
• February 17 – Blame It on Rio (USA, 20th Century-Fox)
• February 17 – Crackers (USA, Universal Pictures)
• February 17 – Footloose (USA, Paramount Pictures)
• February 17 – Lassiter (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 17 – Tenebrae (USA, Bedford Entertainment)

The Blade Master originally opened in Italy on May 27, 1983 as Ator 2: L’invincibile Orion. Tenebrae originally opened in Italy on October 28, 1982 as Tenebre. Hot Heir is also known as The Great Balloon Chase.

Blame It on Rio was based on the 1977 French film Un moment d’égarement. Michelle Johnson was 17 at the time of filming and received permission from a court to appear topless and bottomless in some scenes of the film.

Crackers is a remake of the Italian film Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958).

Ron Howard was originally considered to direct Footloose, but he did Splash instead. Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe were considered for the lead. Kevin Bacon had been cast in Christine, but took a gamble on a screen test for Footloose. Bacon won the role after producers watched his performance in Diner. Madonna, Valerie Bertinelli and Jennifer Jason Leigh were considered for the role of Ariel, which went to Lori Singer. For Kevin Bacon’s warehouse dance scene, he had a stunt double, a dance double and two gymnastics doubles. The film earned Best Original Song nominations for ‘Footloose’ and ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy’.

Lassiter is also known as The Magnificent Thief. Tom Selleck optioned the script while making High Road to China to have a project lined up in case that film didn’t work. The producers agreed to work around Selleck’s limited schedule, filming only between April and June while on hiatus from Magnum, P.I.

Tenebrae was on Britain’s infamous ‘video nasties’ list and was banned until 1999. A heavily censored version was released in the US under the title Unsane.

1994

• February 17 – Broken Highway (AUS, Ronin Films)
• February 18 – Blue Chips (USA, Paramount Pictures)
• February 18 – On Deadly Ground (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 18 – Reality Bites (USA, Universal Pictures)

Broken Highway has no known US theatrical release date.

On Deadly Ground is star Steven Seagal’s only directorial effort. The film includes a minor appearance by Billy Bob Thornton in an early role. Warner Bros. initially penalized Seagal for going over budget by withholding his salary. The studio eventually forgave the loss and paid the salary but in exchange Seagal had to play a supporting role in Executive Decision. The film received six Golden Raspberry Awards nominations including three for Seagal — Worst Picture, Director and Actor.

Reality Bites is Ben Stiller’s feature directorial debut. Stiller was initially hired just to direct before taking a role in the film. Production was delayed until Winona Ryder committed to the project, which led to the casting of Ethan Hawke and Steve Zahn. Janeane Garofalo was fired during filming but rehired after Ryder stepped in on her behalf. Andy Dick, David Spade, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Renée Zellweger have cameo roles. The film has developed a cult following since its release.

2004

• February 14 – Skinned Deep (USA, Bedford Entertainment)
• February 17 – S.I.C.K. Serial Insane Clown Killer (USA, IFM World Releasing)
• February 18 – Les rivières pourpres 2 – Les anges de l’apocalypse (France/Belgium)
• February 19 – Autobahnraser (USA)
• February 19 – One Perfect Day (AUS, Roadshow Entertainment)
• February 20 – Against the Ropes (USA, Paramount Pictures)
• February 20 – Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (USA/Canada, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
• February 20 – EuroTrip (USA, DreamWorks Distribution)
• February 20 – Kitchen Stories (USA, limited, IFC Films)
• February 20 – Sex Lives of the Potato Men (UK, Devotion Films)
• February 20 – The Best Two Years (USA, limited, Halestorm Entertainment)
• February 20 – The Big Animal (USA, Milestone Film & Video)

S.I.C.K. Serial Insane Clown Killer originally opened in the UK on October 20, 2003. Les rivières pourpres 2 – Les anges de l’apocalypse premiered on DVD in the US on March 29, 2005 as Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse. Autobahnraser, also known as A2 Racer, has no known US theatrical release date. Kitchen Stories originally opened in Norway on January 17, 2003 as Salmer fra kjøkkenet. One Perfect Day had no US theatrical release, but was screened at the Coachella and Tribeca Film Festivals in May 2004. Sex Lives of the Potato Men has no known US theatrical release date. The Big Animal originally opened in Poland on August 25, 2000 as Duze zwierze.

Autobahnraser is based on the popular German videogame-series Autobahn Raser (1997-2005) by Dutch game studio Davilex Software.

Against the Ropes was the feature directorial debut of Charles S. Dutton. With a budget of $39 million, the film grossed just $6.6 million in the US.

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is based on Dyan Sheldon’s 1999 novel of the same name. While the film was set in New Jersey, filming mostly took place in Toronto, Hamilton and Oakville, Canada, with some scenes shot in New York City and Montclair, New Jersey. The lead role played by Lindsay Lohan was originally offered to Hilary Duff. The film also features a then-unknown Megan Fox.

Writers Jeff Schaffer, Alec Berg and David Mandel also all directed EuroTrip, but Schaffer was given sole credit. The film was shot completely in Prague. The film features cameos from Vinnie Jones, Lucy Lawless, Diedrich Bader, Fred Armisen, Kristin Kreuk, Jeffrey Tambor and Matt Damon. Damon was in Prague at the same time filming The Brothers Grimm and was able to shave his head to cameo as a punk singer because he wore a wig for Grimm.

Kitchen Stories was inspired by post-World War II research books on the efficiency of the Swedish housewife. Writer-Director Bent Hamer wondered about the same research being done on men which led him to make the film with a male lead.

Sex Lives of the Potato Men has been called one of the worst films of all time. Controversy surrounded the film as nearly £1 million of public money from the National Lottery via the UK Film Council was used to fund the project.

The Best Two Years is based on the stage play The Best Two Years of My Life by Scott S. Anderson, who also wrote and directed the film.

The Big Animal is based on the short story Wielbłąd (1995) by Kazimierz Orłoś.

2014

Warner Bros. Pictures

• February 14 – About Last Night (USA, Screen Gems)
• February 14 – Adult World (USA, IFC Films)
• February 14 – Date and Switch (USA, Lions Gate Films)
• February 14 – Easy Money: Hard to Kill (USA, Cinedigm Entertainment Group)
• February 14 – Endless Love (USA/Canada/UK, Universal Pictures)
• February 14 – Girl on a Bicycle (USA, limited, Monterey Media)
• February 14 – Jimmy P. (USA, IFC Films)
• February 14 – Lucky Bastard (USA, Cavu Pictures)
• February 14 – Winter’s Tale (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• February 19 – 3 Days to Kill (Egypt, Batrax Entertainment)
• February 19 – Child’s Pose (USA, Zeitgeist Films)
• February 20 – Highway (India)
• February 20 – Wolf Creek 2 (AUS, Roadshow Films)

3 Days to Kill was released in the US and Canada on February 21, 2014. Date and Switch was originally titled Gay Dude. Easy Money: Hard to Kill originally opened in Sweden on August 17, 2012 as Snabba cash II. Girl on a Bicycle originally opened in Germany on March 7, 2013 as Liebe und andere Turbulenzen (Love and Other Turbulence). Jimmy P. originally opened in France and Belgium on September 11, 2013. Child’s Pose originally opened in Romania on March 8, 2013 as Pozitia copilului. Haunt originally opened in France on October 9, 2013. Highway opened in limited US release on February 21, 2014. Wolf Creek 2 received a limited theatrical release in the US on May 16, 2014.

About Last Night is a remake of the 1986 film of the same name. Both films are based on the 1974 David Mamet play Sexual Perversity in Chicago. The location for the remake was changed to Los Angeles, where the film was shot.

Endless Love was a remake of the 1981 film of the same title, and both were based on Scott Spencer’s novel of the same name. Emma Roberts was initially offered the female lead of Jade, but she turned it down. Gabriella Wilde was cast instead.

The full title of Jimmy P. is Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian.

Lucky Bastard is the directorial debut of producer Robert Nathan. The film earned an NC-17 rating for sex and violence, and after receiving notes on what to cut to get an R, the film’s staff declined stating there would be no movie left.

Winter’s Tale is based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Mark Helprin, and was released in the UK and Ireland as A New York Winter’s Tale. The film features the final appearance of Eva Marie Saint before her retirement. Warner Bros. attempted to hire Martin Scorsese to direct but he turned it down, calling the story ‘unfilmable’. Benjamin Walker, Tom Hiddleston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Garrett Hedlund auditioned for the role of Peter Lake (Colin Farrell). Elizabeth Olsen, Bella Heathcote, Gabriella Wilde and Sarah Gadon tested for the role of Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay).

Child’s Pose won the Golden Bear at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.

Highway is based on the episode of the same name from the Zee TV anthology series Rishtey, which was also written and directed by Imtiaz Ali who did the same for the film.